Sheltie Angel Tribute
I found out some sad news this morning. Our friend Thumbelena is now a Sheltie Angel. Thumbelena was adopted by Barbra, one of the rescue volunteers with LL Dog Rescue. Barbra fostered my Little Debbie and Debbie became pretty attached to her. She still gets very excited when she sees Barbra.
Thumbelena passed away on Wednesday morning July 4th at 2:30 am. You might think from the picture here that Thumbelena was a puppy, but she was a full grown, purebred Sheltie girl; all 2.5 to 3 pounds of her (depending on the day.) She was also a puppy mill rescue and was surrendered having never been bred because as the breeder said "She's too small." Gee, do ya think? Thumbelena was born with underdeveloped kidneys, a sad effect of puppy mill breeding everywhere. Mill breeders rarely test their breeding stock for hereditary disease, and are generally not concerned about bettering the breed through their program - just making money. Unhealthy dogs like Thumbelena are the unfortunate result of this carelessness.But, despite her health, Thumbelena was a bright, happy little girl. She was a great cuddler (I can speak from experience as I got to snuggle with her for awhile at the reunion picnic last month) and loved to play. She was an incredibly sweet and loving little girl. That is, unless you brought the comb out, at which point she became a fierce attacker (of the comb.) She lived as if she didn't know how sick she was. We should all have such zest!
I know Barbra is just heart broken right now. I remember sobbing myself to sleep the night that Charlotte died. It's so hard to loose a pet. Thumbelena lived months and months longer than she was expected to because of the great care that Barbra gave her, and Duncan Debbie and I will be thinking of her!
"They Gain Their Wings"
Shelties do not die,
they only gain their wings and fly.
They will play again I pray,
in those green fields far away.
Past the gaits of pearly white,
with other loved ones gone from our sight.
We will see them once again
at a place called Rainbows end,
with a wag of a tail and a jump in the air,
we will once again become a pair.
Don't be sad this day my friend,
just look for the bridge called Rainbows end,
and remember, "Shelties do not die,
they gain their wings and learn to fly".
by L. Marie Crane
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3 Comments:
Tatha, thank you for the beautiful tribute to Thumbelena. I wanted to share Thumbelena's Special Needs Story for our newsletter.
Barbra
Thumbelena Dance…..
Here you come, all 3 lbs., running like the wind through the grass. Your ears are laid back as your back legs nearly pass your front ones. Sheltie figure 8’s and twirls. What a happy tiny Sheltie girl you are. Who would know that the Rainbow Bridge has been calling you since you were five months old? This day in June, you had your very first birthday. What a Happy Day. All these months of 3 to 5 meds twice a day and bi-monthly blood tests have postponed your meeting with those who have gone before you. How long can the meds and that one tiny deformed kidney keep you running and playing? Let’s not ask. Let me enjoy seeing your happiness, love of life and the adoring looks from those big, dark eyes. You lay here in my lap, looking up as to ask why are you crying? Let’s go out in the sun and play our day away.
With Love,
Tummy's Mom
Tatha, what a beautiful tribute to both Thumbelena and Barbra. Not only was Thumbelena so very special, but it takes a very, very special person like Barbra to provide all the love and care that Thumbelena needed and wanted. You and I both know how devastating it is to lose a pet that is really a child in our hearts. Somehow, acknowledging how much we understand the loss helps, and it allows the "parent" to express that grief. No one but an acknowledged "pet parent" can understand. Thanks again for a beautiful tribute. Lynne
I am so sad to hear about Thumbelena. I too met her and Barbra at the reunion picnic and she found her way into my heart on first glance. I smile whenever I think about that special lady and her special sheltie.
Shirlee
(aka Tristan's Mom)
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